Discussion: National and International Challenges
Human services professionals who focus on rectifying human rights violations, social problems, mental health, or welfare needs often do so on a national and international level. In the national and international sphere, there is a great need for social change agents, leaders, and advocates on behalf of human rights, as well as for other issues. Attempting to address these issues at the national and international levels presents a unique set of challenges for human services professionals.
To prepare:
• Select one national and one international challenge related to human and social services professions and/or the roles and responsibilities of human and social services professionals anywhere in the world. These should be challenges you or a professional might face when attempting to address issues at the national and international levels, such as professional recognition, apathy, or cultural barriers.
• Think about why addressing these challenges is important to the profession, as well as what difference its resolution or improvement might make.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.
• Required Readings
• Homan, M. S. (2016). Promoting community change: Making it happen in the real world (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.
• Chapter 8, "Powerful Planning" (pp. 228-258)
• Chapter 11, "Building the Organized Effort" (pp. 451-473)
• Bost, E. (2009). Innovative human service lessonsfor-and learned from-South Africa. Policy & Practice, 67(2), 33. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. (Accession No. 39788791)
• Mayhew, F. (2012). Human service delivery in a multi-tier system: The subtleties of collaboration among partners. Journal of Health & Human Services Administration, 35(1), 109-135. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• National Organization for Human Services. (n.d.). Ethical standards for human service professionals.
• Wa Mungai, N. (2013). Afrocentric approaches to working with immigrant communities. International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice, 1(1), 45-53.
• Required Media
• Laureate Education (Producer). (2009d). Profession-related change application-National and international [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
• Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.
• Optional Resources
• Stephenson, M. (2005). Making humanitarian relief networks more effective: Operational coordination, trust and sense making. Disasters, 29(4), 337-350.